Our schools

There are so many things that need to be said about our Jefferson County Public Schools. The first and foremost is to ask if JCPS is educating our children so they can advance in higher learning or enter the workforce prepared to be productive. Anything short of that goal is totally unacceptable.

Yet, JCPS has not figured out how to educate our children. When the superintendent or a member of the school board speaks, I want to hear nothing except student achievement. Educating is the top priority. All resources must be used for that one and only goal. When JCPS spends time and money on anything not directly related to learning, they fail our children.

We are told now that JCPS is "reaching for new goals." Why? Haven't we yet figured out how to educate our children? It's our only goal, right? Basic teaching and learning have been around for thousands of years and yet JCPS is still searching for how best to get our children ready for college or career!

My last question: Does the spending of almost $100 million dollars each year on the student assignment plan better educate our children? It's our only goal, right?

BILL WETTER

Louisville 40241

Education solutions

Maybe Kentucky needs to look at programs instituted in Tennessee to see if their programs will help Kentucky improve effectiveness in the classroom. For starters, Tennessee has begun to link teachers' pay to student test scores and is less reliant on years of service and additional degrees.

Tennessee tied evaluations to student test scores, did away with collective bargaining by teachers and made it harder for them to earn tenure. In addition, beginning in 2015, Tennessee will pull the license of teachers whose students consistently fail to improve.

This sure looks like a good idea. Maybe this will also reduce the need to continually throw money at the school system and get no improvement in results.

THOMAS E. GROVES

Louisville 40291

Wants explanation

Would someone from Jefferson County Public Schools please explain why a person under investigation by state social service officials for an improper relationship with a student and also under a corrective action plan in another school district for instructional issues was considered, much less hired, for a position at my child's elementary school?

HEATHER TOMPKINS

Louisville 40216

Williams' attack

I am glad that The Courier-Journal decided to print Aubrey Williams' attack on the newspaper's reporting of the Barbara Shanklin metro council issue. It gave all of us another chance to witness the complete arrogance of this man.

He might have a good argument to make legally, and certainly the court agreed with him.

However, in the process, he gravely insulted the character of attorney David Tachau, and by effect, atheists/non-believers, with his vile statements about those who do not share a belief in a god. He said that atheists "can't tell the truth."

He said that atheists have no moral guidance, and he said that atheists "will do anything" to achieve their goals without regards to law and ethics.

And finally, he claims that he won his case because "God" was on his side and the side of the seven council members who agreed with him.

Between this absolute nonsense from a man who ironically is a "Christian ethics professor," and the charges made recently by witnesses discussing the new Kentucky standards for science, I felt it was important to stand up on behalf of myself and other atheists and non-believers.

I am calling these types of accusations out for what they are - sheer immoral vindictiveness and purposeful misrepresentations about almost 20 percent of the people in our community and country. And if anyone asks me to describe one of the many reasons I am an atheist, I can now simply point to Rev. Aubrey Williams.

LINDA ALLEWALT

Former Courier-Journal Forum Fellow

Shelbyville, Ky. 40065

Holding my nose

While holding my nose, I have only two words to say about the upcoming U.S. Senate election: Ditch Mitch.

PAT SWARTZ

Bardstown, Ky. 40004

Fair traffic

My husband and I came to the fair Saturday and it took one hour and 20 minutes to get from the Watterson exit to the main entrance to the Kentucky State Fair. During that time we sat while cars drove past us in the left lane and blocked the traffic going to the airport until someone allowed them to cut in front of people that had been patiently waiting.

During the time we waited, I did not see one single Metro Police officer helping to direct traffic or even being a presence on the scene that could have become a road rage situation. Thankfully, the attendants at the fair were much better prepared and professional. They got the traffic moving in a friendly and expert manor. Maybe Metro Louisville could hire them as consultants.